First Call: A possible free agent destination for JuJu Smith-Schuster; Aaron Rodgers discusses his future; Flyers keep losing

In Wednesday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster may already have a preferred destination in free agency. The USFL will stage an interesting television launch in April. Aaron Rodgers outlines his decision-making process for his future playing career.

And while the Penguins just keep winning, the Philadelphia Flyers just keep losing.

Ain’t life grand?

JuJu Round 2?

JuJu Smith-Schuster decided to stay in Pittsburgh for 2021 after a soft free-agency market for wide receivers last spring.

Before re-signing with the Steelers, though, the wide receiver claimed that he was courted by the Kansas City Chiefs. He even went so far as to claim that coach Andy Reid was texting him pictures of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV trophy.

After an injury-plagued 2021 campaign, Smith-Schuster is about to become a free agent again. According to Aaron Wilson of the Pro Football Network, Smith-Schuster is reconsidering a match with Kansas City.

“Now that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has retired, Smith-Schuster is interested in potentially joining the Chiefs again,” Wilson said Tuesday. “It’s no secret in NFL circles with multiple league sources saying Smith-Schuster hopes to join the Chiefs as a free agent and has expressed that desire.”

After undergoing surgery for a dislocated shoulder in Week 5, Smith-Schuster returned for the franchise’s playoff game against Kansas City.

Smith-Schuster had just 15 catches for 129 yards and no touchdowns in 2021. For his career, he has 323 career receptions for 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Making up his mind

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he won’t wait long to decide if he will continue playing or retire.

And, if he continues playing, if he wants to do so in Green Bay or elsewhere.

Like, you know, maybe Pittsburgh?

“There is a timeframe for this because I understand my decision does impact a number of other people’s decisions and I want to be very sensitive to that,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “So I’ll definitely make a decision sooner rather than later.”

"I understand that my decision does impact a number of other people & I wanna be very sensitive to that.. I'll definitely make a decision sooner than later" ~@AaronRodgers12#PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/xCBdBo4vMv

— ????️at McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 25, 2022

Rodgers isn’t a free agent, but if he desires to exit Green Bay, he may be able to broker a deal through his current franchise to engineer a trade to a preferred destination.

However, other current Packers, such as star receiver Davante Adams, may make up their minds on whether or not to stay in Green Bay based upon what Rodgers does.

“I don’t want to put myself on a specific date, but I do want to be sensitive to Davante and many other guys who have decisions to make on their own futures,” Rodgers said. “And to drag it out past free agency would be disrespectful to the organization and to those guys, and that 100 percent will not happen.”

The Steelers and Denver Broncos have been listed as the two gambling favorites for Rodgers to choose if he leaves the Packers via trade or being released.

Related:

• First Call: The favorite to land Aaron Rodgers; Steelers defensive coordinator plans; Keith Butler on Stephon Tuitt
• Tim Benz: Penguins living in the comfort of a hot streak — regardless of how it is happening

Teamed up

The new USFL’s debut game will be in front of lots of eyeballs.

Soon we’ll find out if those potential viewers decide to watch.

Fox and NBC will simulcast the league’s first contest on April 16 between the New Jersey Generals and Birmingham Stallions. The Saturday night primetime game will be played at Protective Stadium in Birmingham starting at 7:30 p.m.

According to Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand, “NBC Sports will produce pregame, halftime and postgame shows; Fox Sports will handle the game coverage. The same commercials will run across both networks.”

SBJ reports that Fox and NBC each have multiyear deals with the USFL, with NBC carrying 22 games this year (nine on NBC, nine on USA, four on Peacock) and Fox also carrying 22 (14 on Fox, eight on FS1).

The networks told Ourand that the game will mark the first scheduled game to air on competing broadcast networks since Super Bowl I, which was 55 years ago. In 2007, CBS, NBC and NFL Network all carried the season-ending Patriots-Giants game, but the decision to simulcast that game came just days before kickoff.

Don’t let it stop

If you are a Penguins fan, what’s better than your team winning 17 of 19 games?

How about the Philadelphia Flyers losing 13 in a row?

Now, how about both things happening at the same time?

That’s the beautiful reality in which Pens fans are currently living. As their team was beating the Arizona Coyotes 6-3 on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena, the hated Flyers were losing 4-3 on the road to the New York Islanders.

Zach Parise scored the game winner for New York with just over eight minutes left in the third period.

PUCK. MOVEMENT.

#11 gives us the lead! pic.twitter.com/57r0SqvpYG

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 26, 2022

On Nov. 16, the Flyers were 8-4-2. They are now 13-22-8. That’s good for just 34 points, last in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins have 59 points, one back of the division-leading New York Rangers.